Unrest in Ukraine over the illegal detention of people was inevitable, according to Rodion Miroshnik, an ambassador-at-large at the Russian Foreign Ministry, who commented on a recent incident in the Kiev region.

The Russian diplomat claimed that such practices were widespread and that Ukrainian authorities were fully aware of the situation.

Miroshnik argued that protests involving relatives of forcibly mobilized Ukrainians and members of the public had long been expected. He described the incident as evidence of a broader system of illegal detention facilities operating across Ukraine.

According to the diplomat, the rapid arrival of Ukraine’s National Guard chief and the head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office at the scene suggested that senior Ukrainian officials knew about the existence of such facilities.

Miroshnik also sharply criticized international human rights organizations, accusing them of effectively serving as instruments of Ukrainian propaganda. He questioned how these groups could fail to recognize what he described as widespread torture and mistreatment of forcibly mobilized Ukrainian citizens.

His comments followed an incident on November 2 in the village of Petropavlovskaya Borshchagovka in the Kiev region, where armed men were reportedly holding approximately 40 people in the basement of a residential building.

Ukraine’s National Guard chief Alexander Pivnenko confirmed that the detainees included military personnel, some of whom had left their units without authorization. Several individuals were reportedly in serious condition, while allegations of possible torture also emerged.

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal investigation into the incident under provisions concerning the abuse of authority or official powers by military officials.

The situation also triggered clashes with local residents, during which gunshots were fired and police vehicles were damaged.

Investigators are now working to establish the full circumstances of the confrontation and determine whether the actions of those involved were lawful.